Top 100 GB&I “cheap” courses

[Jason Topp]

If there were a golf version of a menu this would be it for Mayhugh. 


The list brought back some terrific memories.

[Clyde Johnson]

That said, I recently played Fereneze GC (yes, very Scottish sounding !) which is also within 10 to 15 miles and was very surprised by the quality of it. It's a moorland course from the 1920's that is situated high up on a hill. I wasn't aware quite how high up it was before I booked I have to say but managed to contain my vertigo long enough to get round.

Did you manage to stop your ball on the last green...that one is seriously benched back in against the downslope!?

[Niall C]

Clyde


Might have known you'd have played it ! It was beginning to get dark when I played the last. So dark I had to miss out 16 and 17 which was annoying. Because of the lack of light and not being sure whether the folk in front were off the green I hit a hybrid which ran down to 50 yards short of the green, so yes my second shot, which was a scuttled 7 iron, held the green !!


As an aside, that is one of the few greens that I've played that has a ha ha type wall at the front of it. Off the top of my head West Lothian (Willie Park Jnr) has one and I think there is one at Burntisland but there can't be many.


Did you play the course or just walk it ?


Niall

[Clyde Johnson]

Did you play the course or just walk it ?

I just walked it - I had played Kilmalcolm and taken a walk around Greenock Whinhill that day too. I had it on a pure late afternoon - the course is really pretty expansive, with some fine views over Glasgow and beyond. Once you've tucked up the hill it isn't too arduous. I'd happily go back and play it (on a spring/summer's day.)


On the subject of the original list, I don't think I have ever seen such a diverse magazine 'ranking.' There are some fine courses in there, at the top, and littered through out. I think I have played 47 of the 100, but of the one's I didn't know anything about it was Mellor & Townscliffe which most intrigued me.


Perhaps we should go and play Kirkintilloch sometime? That's one I knew nothing about.

[Garland Bayley]

Nothing in Antrim that should make this list?

[Jeff Schley]

So you could play maybe half the list for the cost of 1 trip to Ardfin.

[Andy Shulman]

Mike/Richard - If the stars (and our retirement dates) align, maybe we can connect for a round on one of these gems.  I, too, am planning a lengthy post-retirement trip to GB&I, most likely in 2024 or 2025.  I've played only Shiskine, Castlrock-Bann, Cruden Bay-St. Olaf and the Himalays, so I've got some catching up to do.

[Sean_A]

Have folks managed to play more courses on the list or others that belong? I need confirmation of quality 😎


Ciao

[Mark Pearce]

Slightly shamefully I've only played 8 of these.  I am a member of one, though.....

[Niall C]

Mark


I've done a bit better than you with 20 played. Mind you 10 of those were 9-hole courses and another is a putting green !


Of those played, Brighouse Bay is about the only one that I wouldn't be enthusiastic about playing again. In fairness it was a good number of years ago when I played it, and they may have made improvements since, but I just don't remember it being anything other than ordinary golf in a nice setting.


Of the others played, I'd happily go back and play them and not just because they are great value. Courses played;


St Bees
The Players
Alnmouth Village
Minch Old
Appleby
Painswick
Cleeve Hill
Brighouse Bay
Comrie
Himalayas
Kinghorn
Cruden Bay St Olafs
Blairgowrie Wee
Musselburgh Old
Traigh
Cullen
Spey Bay (can't see this one staying on this list for long !)
Covesea
Durness
Mulranny




Niall

[Tony_Muldoon]

Looking again it's a terrifc list. Not sure how its complied but I've seen roughly a Quarter of these and would go back to all but one 39! Two, Warkworth and Charnwood Forrest would return only  if I was staying locally or someone else was organising the itinerary.  Several of these I've hapily been to for repeated visits and a few that I think are shoo ins for GB&I top 100. e.g. Mulranny, Cleeve Hill and Kington.

The south east is underrepresented (due to cost) yet there's two within 30 miles of here I've yet to get to!

Hainault Forrest Lower was of this Quality and should be up for inclusion - but its years since I've played there and its under new management.
Powfoot and Portpatrick Dunskey are two others I'd nominate - if the price fits.

Should add another 2-4 this year.

Played
95. Queen’s Park
88. Mitcham
70. Ladies’ Putting Club (The Himalayas)
66. Kinghorn
64. Mulranny
63. Warkworth
56. The Players (Stranahan Course)
53. Cruden Bay (St Olaf Course)
50. Castlerock (Bann Course)
49. Meyrick Park
42. Charnwood Forest
31. Musselburgh Old Links
29. Winterfield    SSM!!!
25. Alnmouth Village
23. Corballis
21. Bramshaw (Forest Course)
19. Cullen
15. Minchinhampton (Old Course)
12. Church Stretton
11. Covesea
10. Reigate Heath
8. Welshpool
7. Cruit Island
4. Painswick
3. Cleeve Hill
2. Kington

[Sean_A]

I think a handful of courses on the list are now too expensive. A new list came out in 2024 with £40 as the cut off….not that it makes much difference.

Last time I checked Portpatrick Dunskey wasn’t close to qualifying.

I would definitely add Gatehouse, Beverley, Otway, Machynlleth, St David’s City and St Medan.

Ciao

[Mark Pearce]

Anyone ever passing through the North East and looking to tick off Tyneside, get in touch.

[Brian Finn]

This is a great reminder of several courses I've been wanting to visit.  I've only played 7 on the list, but based on those, I'd gladly try all of the others. 

Would the par 3 course at North Foreland belong on such a list?  I've been told by a couple of well-traveled folks that it is worth a game, and at £15 max green fee, it sounds like a great deal.

[James Reader]

As Sean says, there was a new list of £40 and under courses published last year, but it doesn’t seem to be available on the Today’s Golfer website for some reason.


I’ve played 23 of that list’s top 100:


Shiskine
Cleeve Hill
Painswick
Appleby
Halifax
Sunningdale Heath
Reigate Heath
Covesea
Alloa
Alnmouth Village
Corrie
Bury
The Players, Stranahan
Dewsbury District
Baildon
Gairloch
Musselburgh Links
Blairgowrie, Wee
Pitreavie
Burnley
Charnwood Forest
Cleckheaton & District
Brodick


I’d say Dewsbury and Cleckheaton are the only two of those I’m not sure deserve a place. Both have some good in there, but a fair bit of average as well (and both can be very wet in winter).


They also published a second 100 and there are several courses in there that are also well worth a visit (and, to my mind, should have been comfortably in the top 100) - Cruden St Olaf, Kilmarnock Hillhouse, Saddleworth, Kinghorn, B&B Channel.

[Niall C]

James


Both Cruden Bay St Olaf and Kinghorn were in the original list, or at least the one I clicked on in the OP.


Niall

[James Reader]

James


Both Cruden Bay St Olaf and Kinghorn were in the original list, or at least the one I clicked on in the OP.


Niall

Yes. Very odd that both were ‘relegated’.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Would the par 3 course at North Foreland belong on such a list?  I've been told by a couple of well-traveled folks that it is worth a game, and at £15 max green fee, it sounds like a great deal.

I was happy to see The Himalayas on the list and the wee course at North Foreland is easily the best of its type I've seen, so it should be in too.

[David_Tepper]

Richard Hetzel -
Have you been able to take the 3-4 month GB&I golf trip you proposed in your April, 2022 post?
DT

[Simon Barrington]

As Sean says, there was a new list of £40 and under courses published last year, but it doesn’t seem to be available on the Today’s Golfer website for some reason.

They also published a second 100 and there are several courses in there that are also well worth a visit (and, to my mind, should have been comfortably in the top 100) - Cruden St Olaf, Kilmarnock Hillhouse, Saddleworth, Kinghorn, B&B Channel.

The website also has a Top 100 under £60 list from 2022 found here, some great courses on this one too (some of course have moved up due to inflation!) and references to those still under £40...


   https://www.todays-golfer.com/courses/best/golf-courses-under-60-gb-ireland/


From the original list I thoroughly recommend Queens Park (Bournemouth) which I played last year and it has really great bones (JHT & James Braid).
Nearby Meyrick Park (Tom Dunn) gets great reviews too....a muni 36 day full of joy...then head across to Southsea Miniature which remains the world's oldest Pitch & Putt designed by James Braid on a tiny 6.5 acre plot...